Device capable of reducing ship&#39;s sailing drag and assisting the steering of the ship

ABSTRACT

The invention provides a device which can reduce the drag and assist the steering of the ship, mainly to set up a 3-way pipe in the bow where is below the water level. The 3-way pipe leads to three openings at the stem, the port side and the starboard side respectively. At least one control valve (or deflector) can be provided in the 3-way piping system. The valve (or deflector) can be controlled from the bridge, with a diversion device. When the ship sails forward, water flows into the 3-way pipe from the forward pipe, distributed to both side pipes and then outflow, so that it can reduce the pressure drag to the stem, improve the ship&#39;s speed and save bunker. When the valve (or deflector) is set as neutral, the water will be distributed evenly to both side pipes, which will not affect the ship&#39;s heading. When the valve (or deflector) deflects more water to either side&#39;s pipe, the ship will turn to the opposite side.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION (a) Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a device capable of reducing ship'ssailing drag and assisting the steering, specifically it is a dragreducing device installed at the bow that can also be used as anauxiliary steering gear.

(b) Description of the Prior Art

When ship sails forward, the stem is subjected to the max pressure dragwhich will reduce ship's speed and increase its bunker consumption. Theusual solution is to streamline the ship form further but such approachcannot exempt the max pressure drag to the stem. Therefore someimprovements can be expected.

FIG. 6 is the diagram of a traditional ship 100. A propeller 101 isinstalled below the stern of the ship 100 and a rudder 102 is installedat the rear thereof. Turning the rudder 102 can change the heading ofthe ship 100, and thus can steer the ship 100. However, the traditionalship 100 is propelled by the propeller 101 at the stern and the thrustis applied to the stern. When the ship sails forward and the rudder 102is turned, the expelled water from the propeller 101 thrusts the rudderto produce a lateral component force to the stern, it also produces alongitudinal component of backward force, so that the ship will beforced to slow down. Sailing of the ship is always affected by wind,wave and current, the heading thus can't be maintained steadily but isin a way of yawing instead. Because it needs turning rudder for coursekeeping, so that above-mentioned backward force is inevitable. Themaximum rudder angle of the ship is set to 35 degrees as industrialstandard, so the minimum turning radius is limited. It is impossible toapply more drastic turn to prevent collision with other ships orobstacles. The existing ship's steering system requires furtherimprovement.

In view of above, the inventor with many years of navigationalexperience, has invented a device for reducing the drag and assistingthe steering of the ship, which can improve the shortcomings oftraditional ship and enhance ship's efficiency.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, the primary object of the present invention is to provide adevice for reducing the drag and assisting the steering of the ship.This inventive device comprises a 3-way pipe installed in the bow belowwater level. The 3-way pipe connects three openings located at the stem,the port side hull and the starboard side hull respectively. When theship sails forward, water flows into the 3-way pipe from the opening atthe stem, to be distributed into the pipes toward the openings at bothport side hull and starboard side hull, can reduce the overall drag ofthe ship for increasing the speed and also save bunker. By adjusting thewater flow to either side pipe, the ship can be turned accordingly.

To achieve the above-mentioned purpose, the invention adopts thefollowing technical measures:

A device for reducing the drag and assisting the steering of the ship,provides a 3-way pipe in the bow below water level, which in the form ofan inverted Y-shape structure leads to the stem and both sides of thehull. At least one valve (or deflector) is equipped in the pipingsystem, which can control the direction of water flow. When the waterflows in from the stem pipe, and the valve (or deflector) deflects theflow to the port side pipe, it can assist the ship to turn to thestarboard side, and vice versa.

To enable a further understanding of said objectives and thetechnological methods of the invention herein, a brief description ofthe drawings is provided below followed by a detailed description of thepreferred embodiments.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is the schematic side view of the present invention installed onthe ship.

FIG. 2 is the schematic diagram of the 1st embodiment of the presentinvention on the ship.

FIG. 2-1 is the schematic diagram of the 1st embodiment of the presentinvention turns the ship to port side.

FIG. 2-2 is the schematic diagram of the 1st embodiment of the presentinvention turns the ship to starboard side.

FIG. 3 is the schematic diagram of the 2nd embodiment of the presentinvention on the ship.

FIG. 3-1 is the schematic diagram of the 2nd embodiment of the presentinvention turns the ship to port side.

FIG. 3-2 is the schematic diagram of the 2nd embodiment of the presentinvention turns the ship to starboard side.

FIG. 4 is the schematic diagram of the 3rd embodiment of the presentinvention on the ship.

FIG. 4-1 is the schematic diagram of the 3rd embodiment of the presentinvention turns the ship to port side.

FIG. 4-2 is the schematic diagram of the 3rd embodiment of the presentinvention turns the ship to starboard side.

FIG. 5 is the schematic diagram of the 4th embodiment of the presentinvention on the ship.

FIG. 5-1 is the schematic diagram of the 4th embodiment of the presentinvention turns the ship to port side.

FIG. 5-2 is the schematic diagram of the 4th embodiment of the presentinvention turns the ship to starboard side.

FIG. 6 is the schematic side view of a traditional ship.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to the FIG. 1. The present invention can reduce the drag andassist the steering of the ship. In addition to the traditional steeringsystem including the propeller 101 and the rudder 102 where below thestern of the ship 10, an auxiliary steering system of 3-way pipe 11 isinstalled in the bow below water level, which leads to the stem and bothsides' hull of the ship. When the ship 10 sails forward, the water flowsinto the 3-way pipe from the stem side's pipe, outflows evenly from thepipes at both sides of the ship, so that it can reduce the overall dragof the ship 10, increase speed or save bunker. When ship turning isneeded, by adjusting the water flow toward either side pipes can achievethe requirement.

Referring to FIGS. 2, 3, 4 and 5. The 3-way pipe 11 is in the form of an“inverted Y-shape” or “inverted T-shape”. According to the principle offluid mechanics, when the ship 10 sails forward, the water flows intothe 3-way pipe 11 from the opening at the stem, and being dischargedfrom both side openings of the ship 10. It can reduce the overall dragof the ship 10 and accordingly, increase the speed of the ship 10 orsave bunker.

FIG. 2 is the 1st embodiment of the present invention to change theheading of the ship 10. In addition to steer by the rudder 102 as shownin the FIG. 1, the present invention can be used as an auxiliarysteering device.

In operation, when the ship 10 intends to turn to port side, theactuator 13 is actuated from the console 12 on the ship 10, and thevalve 14 located in the middle of the 3-way pipe 11 is driven to left asshown in the FIG. 2-1, so as to block the left pipe of the 3-way pipe11. The incoming water from the forward pipe will turn to the right pipeand outflow (as indicated by the arrow). The ship 10 turns to the portside accordingly.When the ship 10 intends to turn to starboard side, the actuator 13 isactuated from the console 12 on the ship 10, and the valve 14 located inthe middle of the 3-way pipe 11 is driven to the right as shown in theFIG. 2-2, so as to block the right pipe of the 3-way pipe 11. Theincoming water from the forward pipe will turn to the left pipe andoutflow (as indicated by the arrow). The ship 10 turns to the starboardside accordingly.

FIG. 3 is the 2nd embodiment of the present invention to change theheading of the ship 10. In addition to steer by the rudder 102 as shownin the FIG. 1, the present invention can be used as an auxiliarysteering device.

In operation, when the ship 10 intends to turn to the port side, theactuator 13 is actuated from the console 12 on the ship 10, and thestopper 15 located in the middle of the 3-way pipe 11 is driven to theleft as shown in the FIG. 3-1, so as to block the left pipe of the 3-waypipe 11. The incoming water from the forward pipe will turn to the rightpipe and outflow (as indicated by the arrow). The ship 10 turns to theport side accordingly.

When the ship 10 intends to turn to starboard side, the actuator 13 isactuated from the console 12 on the ship 10, and the stopper 15 locatedin the middle of 3-way pipe 11 is driven to the right as shown in theFIG. 3-2, so as to block the right pipe of the 3-way pipe 11. Theincoming water from the forward pipe will turn to the left pipe andoutflow (as indicated by the arrow). The ship 10 turns to the starboardside accordingly.

FIG. 4 is the 3rd embodiment of the present invention to change theheading of the ship 10. In addition to steer by the rudder 102 as shownin the FIG. 1, the present invention can be used as an auxiliarysteering device.

In operation, when the ship 10 intends to turn to the port side, theactuator 13 is actuated from the console 12 on the ship 10, and thevalve 16 located at the left side of the 3-way pipe 11 is driven to theright as shown in the FIG. 4-1, so as to block the left pipe of the3-way pipe 11. The incoming water from the forward pipe will turn to theright pipe and outflow (as indicated by the arrow). The ship 10 turns tothe port side accordingly.

When the ship 10 intends to turn to the starboard side, the actuator 13is actuated from the console 12 on the ship 10, and the valve 16′located at the right side of 3-way pipe 11 is driven to the left asshown in the FIG. 4-2, so as to block the right pipe of the 3-way pipe11. The incoming water from the forward pipe will turn to the left pipeand outflow (as indicated by the arrow). The ship 10 turns to thestarboard side accordingly.

FIG. 5 is the 4th embodiment of the present invention to change theheading of the ship 10. Except to steer by the rudder 102 as shown inthe FIG. 1, the present invention can be used as an auxiliary steeringdevice.

In operation, when the ship 10 intends to turn to the port side, theactuator 13 is actuated from the console 12 on the ship 10, and thedeflector 17 located in the middle of 3-way pipe 11 is drivencounter-clockwise as shown in the FIG. 5-1, so as to deflect the waterto the right pipe of the 3-way pipe 11. The incoming water from theforward pipe will turn to the right pipe and outflow (as indicated bythe arrow). The ship 10 turns to the port side accordingly.

When the ship 10 intends to turn to the starboard side, the actuator 13is actuated from the console 12 on the ship 10, and the deflector 17located in the middle of 3-way pipe 11 is driven clockwise as shown inthe FIG. 5-2, so as to deflect the water to the left pipe of the 3-waypipe 11. The incoming water from the forward pipe will turn to the leftpipe and outflow (as indicated by the arrow). The ship 10 turns to thestarboard side accordingly.

In summary, the present invention is capable of reducing the drag andassisting the steering of the ship, mainly in the form of a 3-way pipein the bow below water level, which is provided with at least one valve(or deflector). A valve (or deflector) is located in the neutralposition of the 3-way pipe, when the ship sails forward and the watercame from the front pipe will be distributed evenly to the other twoside pipes and outflow, in which way it can reduce the ship's drag,increase the speed of the ship or save bunker. When the ship intends tochange the heading, in addition to steer the traditional rudder, theactuator can be actuated to drive the valve (or deflector) in the 3-waypiping system so that more water flows to either side's outlet, assiststhe vessel to turn to the opposite side. The invention has never beenmade public or has been found in any publications, therefore it is inline with the provisions of the patent law. Thus the inventor is herebyapplying for a patent.

1. A device for reducing the sailing drag and assisting the steering ofthe ship is provided with a 3-way piping system in the bow below waterlevel, of which is in the form of “inverted Y-shape” structure leads tothe opening at stem and both sides of the hull, said openings at side ofhull being perpendicular to the long axis of the ship, at least onevalve is equipped in the 3-way piping system, which can control the flowdirection; The water flows in from the stem pipe, If the valve controlsand directs the water to turn to the starboard side pipe, the ship willturn to port side; If the valve control and direct the water to turn tothe port side pipe, the ship will turn to starboard side.
 2. The devicefor reducing the sailing drag and assisting the steering of the ship isprovided with a 3-way piping system in the bow below water level, ofwhich is in the form of “inverted Y-shape” structure leads to theopening at stem and both sides of the hull, At least one deflector isequipped in the 3-way piping system, which can control the flowdirection; The water flows in from the stem pipe, If the deflectorcontrol and direct the water to turn to the starboard side pipe, theship will turn to port side; If the deflector control and direct thewater to turn to the port side pipe, the ship will turn to starboardside.
 3. The device for reducing the sailing drag and assisting thesteering of the ship is provided with a 3-way piping system in the bowbelow water level, of which is in the form of “inverted Y-shape”structure leads to the opening at stem and both sides of the hull, Atleast one stopper is equipped in the 3-way piping system, which cancontrol the flow direction; The water flows in from the stem pipe, Ifthe stopper controls and directs the water to turn to the starboard sidepipe, the ship will turn to port side; If the stopper control and directthe water to turn to the port side pipe, the ship will turn to starboardside.
 4. The device for reducing the drag and assisting the steering ofthe ship as set forth in claim 3, wherein the shape of the stopper istriangular.
 5. The device for reducing the sailing drag and assistingthe steering of the ship is provided with a 3-way piping system in thebow below water level, of which is in the form of “inverted Y-shape”structure leads to the opening at stem and both sides of the hull. Whenthe ship sails forward, water flows into the 3-way pipe from the forwardpipe, distributed to both side pipes and outflow, so that it can reducethe total pressure drag to the ship.